Molding-machine.



No. 796,603. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905. J B. RAMP.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1904.

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main, 5 GUAM co mw uvmmnzns. wnmutou u c PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

J. B. RAMP.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1904.

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J. B. RAMP.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) MAY 1a. 1904.

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attomwn No. 796,603. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905. J. B. RAMP.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 JOSEPH B. RAMP, OF WEST BURLINGTON. IOWA.

MOLDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed May 18, 1904. Serial No. 208,627.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. RAMP, a citizen of the United States,residing at West Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State ofIowa, have invented a new and useful Molding-Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in molding-machines.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofmolding-machines and to increase the strength, durability, andefficiency of the same and to provide a simple and comparativelyinexpensive one adapted to permit a carriage to be run under it fromeach of its four sides and capable of being operated at each side forcontrolling the pressing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a molding-machineadapted to support the top of the carriage independently of the bodyportion of the same, whereby when pressure is applied the body portionwill be relieved of the strain incident to such pressure.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointedout in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of constructionwithin the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a molding-machineconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view of the same. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional Viewillustrating the construction of the bed-plate. Fig. 4 is an enlargedsectional view of the rotary valve. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the top of the rotary valve,illustrating the arrangement of the pipes. Fig. 7 is a detail view ofthe rotary-valve disk. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the guide for thecylindrical piston. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the carriage, showingthe same arranged over the enlargement or support of the base. Fig. 10is a transverse sectional view on the line 10 10 of Fig. 11. Fig. 11 isa side elevation, partly in section,

members.

illustrating the construction of the carriage. Fig. 12 is an enlargeddetail plan view of one corner of the carriage. Fig. 13 is an enlargeddetail sectional view illustrating the construction of the coupling forconnecting the upper and lower piston-rods. enlarged detail sectionalviews illustrating the manner of mounting the packing-rings of thepistons.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in allthefigures of the drawings.

1 designates a bed-plate provided at its corners with arms or extensions2, upon which are mounted vertical standards 3, and the latter support across-head or top plate 4, which is also provided at its corners withhorizontal arms or extensions 5. The bed-plate and the cross-head or topplate are secured to the standards to form the frame of the machine bymeans of rods 6, having threaded ends for the reception of the upper andlower nuts 7 and 8, which engage, respectively, the top plate orcross-head and the bed-plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. By means ofthe horizontally-extending arms 2 and 5 the standards are spaced apartsufliciently to permit a carriage 9 to enter the molding-machine at eachof its four sides, and the base-plate is provided with rails 10 and 11,arranged in pairs at right angles to each other, as clearlyillustratedin Fig. 3 of the drawings. The base is also provided withrails 12, extending outward from each side of the molding-machine andspaced from the ends of the rails 10 and 11 a sufficient distance topermit thepassage of the flanges of the carriage-wheels 13. Thecontiguous rails 12, which are arranged at right angles to each other,are preferably formed integral, as shown in Fig. 3.

The carriage is provided with a body portion composed of two oblong sidemembers or trucks 14:, connected at one end by a metal brace 15,consisting of a thin metal bar having its side faces arrangedhorizontally and provided at its ends with attachment plates or portions16, arranged vertically and secured to the adjacent ends of the hollowside At this end of the carriage is also arranged a transverse handle17, which is supported by side bars 18, secured to the outer sides ofthe hollow members 14 and projecting outward beyond the transverse braceor connecting bar 15. The wheels 13 are ar- Figs. 14 and 15 are rangedwithin the hollow side members and are preferably provided withroller-bearings, as shown. The carriage is provided with a depressibletop plate 19, recessed at its sides at to receive the upper portions ofthe hollow side members and guided on the same. The top plate 19 issupported at each portion of the carriage by a coiled spring 21,disposed on a rod or pin 22 and supported by a bracket 23. The rod orpin, which is guided in an opening 24 of the bracket, is provided with athreaded upper portion 25, which pierces the top plate. The top plate isprovided in its upper face at each corner with a recess for thereception of an adjusting-nut 26, which engages the threaded end of therod or pin for controlling the tension of the spring. One end of thecarriage is open to permit it to be run under the press with its topplate over an enlargement or support 27 of the bed-plate. The bed-plateis provided at its center with the enlargement or support 27, whichextends upward, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, andwhich is adapted to receive the top plate of the carriage, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings. When the pressure is applied, ashereinafter explained, the depressible top 19 of the carriage is forceddownward upon the support or enlargement which sustains the said topplate 19, and thereby relieves the body portion of the carriage ofstrain.

In order to prevent a carriagenot provided with a depressible top frombeinginjured or strained by the pressure, the rails 10 and 11 areprovided with openings 28, which are spanned by thin resilient plates orsprings 29,

arranged to receive the wheels of such a carriage and adapted to permitthe carriage to be depressed sufiiciently to carry its top intoengagement with the enlargement or support of the bed-plate. As soon asthe carriage is relieved of the pressure of the molding-machine itwillautomatically resume its normal position and clear the enlargement orsupport of the bed-plate. The carriage may then be run back from themolding-machine.

A hollow cylindrical head 30 is secured to and depends from thecross-head or top plate and is provided with a peripheral groove 31 forthe reception of a packing-ring 32, which bears against the inner faceof a cylindrical piston 33. The cylindrical piston normally inclosesthehead 30 and is provided at its lower end with a plunger 34. A pipe 35extends through the head 30 to conduct compressed air or other pressureto the cylindrical piston 33, and a portion of this pressure finds itsway through ducts 36 to the packing-ring 32, thus insuring the properengagement of the packing-ring with the inner face of the cylindricalpiston.

The cylindrical piston is provided with a centrally-arranged rod 37,which passes upwardly through a lower stufiing-box 38 at the center ofthe head 30 and which is connected at its upper end with the lower endof a rod 39 of a piston 40 of a cylinder 41. The cylinder 41, which isof less diameter than the cylindrical piston, is mounted on anupwardlytapered bracket 42, provided with openings facing the sides ofthe molding-machine. The rod 39, which depends from the piston 40,passes through a stufling-box 43 of the lower end of the cylinder 41 andis provided with a coupling 44. which receives the upper end of the rod37. The coupling is provided at its top'with a socket 45 for the lowerend of the rod 39, and it is bifurcated at its lower portion for thereception of the upper end of the rod 37, which is secured to thecoupling by a pin 46, piercing the sides of the coupling and the upperend of the rod 37, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 13 of the drawings.The pin is readily removable to enable the parts to be uncoupled,whereby the cylindrical piston and the upper cylinder and its piston maybe readily adjusted. The piston 40 of the upper cylinder 41 is providedwith a packing-ring 47, arranged in a peripheral groove 48. The piston40 is also provided with ducts 49, which communicate with the peripheralgroove to admit a portion of the pressure to the pack ing-ring forinsuring the proper engagement of the same with the cylinder 41.

The cylindrical head 30 is provided with a depending guide 50, having avertical slot 51 for the reception of a projection 52 of the cylindricalpiston, whereby the latter is prevented from rotating on the head 30.One or more of these guides may be employed, as will be readilyunderstood.

The cylindrical piston constitutes the press- I ing mechanism forramming the sand around the pattern, and compressed air or otherpressure is admitted to the molding-machine for controlling themovements of the lower cylindrical piston and the piston of the uppercylinder by means of a rotary-valve disk 53,

arranged within a cylindrical casing 54, which is pierced at one side byan air-supply pipe 55. The rotary-valve disk or member operates againstthe upper end of the cylindrical casing 54, which is arrangedvertically, and it is held in properv contact with the inner face of thetop or head 56 of the cylindrical casing by means of a heavy coiledspring 57, disposed on a valve-stem 58 and interposed between therotary-valve disk and the lower end 59 of the cylindrical casing.

end 60 of the valve-stem, which is threaded, is screwed into a socket ofthe valve-disk, which is provided with a feed-port 61 and an exhaustport or passage 62. The feed-port 61 consists of an opening extendingentirely through the rotary disk and adapted to be brought The upper Iinto register with ports 63 and 64 of the top of the cylindrical casing,the said ports 63 and 64 communicating, respectively, with a pipe 65,leading tothe upper cylinder, and with the pipe 35, leading to thecylindrical piston. The exhaust passage or port 62 consists of a curvedgroove communicating with an exhaust-port 66 and adapted to be broughtinto register or communication with ports 67 and 68, communicating,respectively, with the pipes 65 and 35, leading to the upper cylinderand the lower cylindrical piston. The pipe 65, which leads to the uppercylinder, has two branches 69 and 70, which communicate, respectively,with the ports 63 and 67, being fitted within th esame. The other pipe35 is provided with two branches 71 and 72, which communicate with theports 64 and 68, respectively. When the port 61 of the valvedisk is incommunication with the port 63, compressed air will be admitted to thesmall upper cylinder for raising the cylindrical piston. In thisposition the feed-port 64, which communicates with the cylindricalpiston, is closed, as is also the exhaust-port 67 which communicateswith the small cylinder. The exhaust-port 68, which communicates withthe cylindrical piston, is then in communication with the exhaust portor passage 62. and the compressed air within the cylindrical piston iscaused to exhaust through the pipe 7 3. When the valve is shifted, theport 63 will be closed-and the port 64 opened to admit com pressed airto the cylindrical piston. This movement of the valve-disk closes theexhaust-port 68, communicating with the cylindrical piston, and placesthe exhaust-port 67 in communication with the exhaust passage or port62, thereby permitting the air within the small upper cylinder toexhaust. By this construction the press of the molding-machine isoperated.

The cylindrical casing 54 is provided with supporting-legs 74, which aresecured to the cross-head. or top plate of the molding-machine. Thevalve stem extends below the lower end or head of the cylindrical casing54, which is provided at the bottom with a suitable stuffing-box 75. Thelower end of the valve-stem is connected with operating-rods 76,extending to the four sides of the machine and provided thereat withdepending handles 7 7 The operating-rods are adapted to be shifted oroscillated to partially rotate the valve-disk, and their movement islimited by guides 78, mounted upon the cross-head or top plate of themachine, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In operation the flask is placed upon the carriage, which is run underthe press, and the latter is operated to press the sand thoroughly uponevery part of the pattern with a uniform pressure. The valve is thenshifted to admit air to the small upper cylinder for raising thecylindrical piston. The supply of compressed air to the rotary valve maybe controlled by a suitable valve or cut-off, as will be readilyunderstood.

The downward movement of the cylindrical piston is limited by asafety-port 79, consisting of an opening located at one side of thecylindrical piston, near the upper edge thereof, and adapted whenuncovered by the downward movement of the said piston to permit theescape of the compressed air, whereby further downward movement of thepiston will be arrested.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a molding-machine, the combination of a bed-plate provided withfour arms or extensions and a central rigid enlargement or support,rails arranged in pairs at right angles to and crossing each other andresting on the bed-plate at the sides of the enlargement or support,four standards mounted on the arms or extensions of the bed-plateoutside the rails, a top plate having four arms or extensions connectedto the upper ends of the standards, pressing mechanism carried by thetop plate and arranged above the said enlargement or support, a carriageadapted to run on the rails under the pressing mechanism in fourdifferent directions and comprising two spaced side members or trucks torun on the rails, and a top adapted to rest on the support orenlargement, and means for yieldably holding the top of the carriageabove the said support or enlargement, whereby when the pressure isapplied, the top ofthe carriage will rest upon the support orenlargement, said means being also adapted to automatically lift the topof the carriage from the support when the pressure is removed,substantially as described.

2. In a molding-machine, the combination of a press, a bed-plate havinga support adapted to receive the top of a carriage, rails located atopposite sides of the bed-plate and provided with openings, and springsspanning the openings of the rails and completing the same and adaptedto receive the wheels of a carriage to permit the top thereof to bedepressed upon the support when the pressure is applied, substantiallyas described.

3. In a molding-machine, the combination of abed-plate havingasupport, apress located above the same, a carriage composed of a body portion, atop adapted to rest upon the support, and springs mounted on the bodyportion and supporting the top, substantially as described.

4. In a molding-machine, the combination of abed-plate having a support,a press located above the same, a carriage comprising a body portionprovided With brackets a top adapted to rest upon the support, springsmounted on the brackets and supporting the top of the carriage, and pinsadjustably connected With the carriage and receiving the springs andguided on the brackets, substantially as described.

-In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH B. RAMP. Witnesses:

JOHN N. PATTERSON, OLIVER B. RAMP.

